A Journey to Israel, Part I

1. A Journey to the
Holy Land
May 26-June 9, 2014

2. Ready to leave from
Shelter Cove in Modesto

3. Our GPS on the plane

4. Our beautiful hotel in Netanya,
Israel

5. View of the Mediterranean Sea
from our hotel

6. Such an assortment of fresh foods!

7. Bountiful buffet

8. Catchy title for a coffee shop

9. McDonald’s is here also!

10. Wall of separation between
the Gaza strip and Israel

11. Another part of the
wall of separation

12. Bunkers left from the 1967 war

13. Building on to an existing house

14. Map of Israel : Caesaria Maritima

15. Caesaria Maritima
• Built by Herod in 20 BC
• 40 acre harbor
• A model Roman city, complete with aquaducts,
sewers, a forum, mosaic walkways covered with
marble colonnade
• A hippodrome (racetrack)
• Phillip, Peter, and Paul visited here after the
crucifixion
• Paul was held at the Praetorium for several
months in 60-61 AD (prison recently found)
• Herod Agrippa I died here (Acts 12:19)

16. Remains of the Harbor

17. Drawing of the Courtyard

18. Columns and a courtyard

19. Roman columns

20. Mosaic tiles

21. Lion head carving

22. sarcophagus

23. sarcophagus

24. Hippodrome for chariot races

25. Seating for the chariot races

26. Niches for the Roman gods

27. Contenders would come
out of this doorway

28. I found a friend!

29. Roman Aquaduct
near Caesaria Maritima

30. Trying to hold it up!

31. Cool water of the Med Sea

32. An optical illusion: Dr. Seifert can
hold his grandson in one hand!

33. Nazareth

34. Panorama of Nazareth

35. View of countryside
east of Nazareth

36. Mount of the Precipice where Jesus
was driven out of Nazareth

37. A brave climber

38. Far above the farmland

39. Mount Carmel

40. Mount Carmel
where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal by
calling down “the fire of God.”

41. Valley of Armageddon

42. Valley of Jezreel, called Valley of Armageddon,
(Greek spelling of “Har Megiddo”, mountain of
Megiddo) Napoleon said “ perfect battlefield”.

43. Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee

45. Statue of Apostle Peter

46. Modern church built above the
remains of Peter’s House

47. The House of the apostle Peter

48. Octagonal church once stood around
Peter’s house in Capernaum. 131 inscriptions
found; “Lord Jesus help thy servant” 1st c.

49. Houses in Capernaum,
Between Peter’s house and Synagogue

50. Biblical events in Capernaum:
*Jesus left Nazareth and lived in
Capernaum. Matthew 4:12
*Jesus called His first disciples by the
Sea of Galilee in Capernaum.
*Jesus cured Peter’s mother-in-law in
Capernaum.
*Jesus cured the centurion’s servant in
Capernaum.
*Jesus healed the sick and cast out
demons in Capernaum.
*Jesus raised up the dead daughter of
Jairus, the synagogue ruler.
*Jesus healed the paralyzed man who
was let down through the roof.

52. Limestone synagogue stands above
the original basalt synagogue.

53. Jesus taught at the
Synagogue at Capernaum

54. Synagogue was built by the Roman
centurion because of the healing of his
servant.

55. Roman dice games on synagogue
floor shows the decline in reverence
for the synagogue.

56. Jewish Symbols on Synagogue Lintel

57. Stones and column heads from the
original synagogue, which is beneath
the limestone synagogoue.

58. Jesus began to denounce the cities
where most of His mighty works had
been done, because they did not
repent.
(Chorazim, Bethsaida, Capernaum)
To Capernaum, He said, “But I tell
you that it will be more tolerable on
the day of judgment for the land of
Sodom than for you.”
Matthew 11: 20-24
These towns now exist only in ruins.

59. Ancient Korazim,
very close to Capernaum

60. Arched basalt walls and columns
near the bath house

61. Synagogue in Korazim

63. A street in Korazim

64. Chiseled basalt stones

65. Basalt stones for roofs

66. Basalt long stones make a roof
on a mikvah or ritual bath

67. Opening into the mikvah
A Mikvah was used to ritually purify oneself.

68. This is a real manger!
Jesus was most likely laid in one like this.

69. Fascinated by the tiny windows

70. A house

71. Place of the Sermon on the Mount
by the Sea Of Galilee

73. The Church of the Beatitudes
Believed to be in the area where Jesus
gave the Sermon on the Mount.

74. Pastor Seifert‘s message
by the Sea of Galilee

75. By the shore of the Sea of Galilee

76. Jesus Boat etching by the shores
of the Sea of Galilee

77. Galilee Boat Ride

79. A fish common to the Sea of
Galilee, now called St. Peter’s Fish.

80. Delicious Pitas

81. Map of the Sea of Galilee
on the shore

82. MOUNT HERMON
ISRAEL’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN

83. Area of Caesaria Philippi
and Mount Hermon

84. Jesus took the disciples to
Caesaria Philippi.

85. Pagan cult of Pan began in 3rd c. BC
This place was called the Gates of Hades.

86. Ritual sacrifices were cast into a natural
abyss into underground waters.

87. If victims disappeared, Pan had accepted the
sacrifice. If blood appeared in a nearby
spring, the sacrifice was rejected.

88. Statue of Pan was placed in a niche and
another of the nymph, Echo, his consort.
What followed was a pagan fertility ritual.

89. Bones of goats used in rituals were
buried in niches in the Tomb Temple of
the sacred goats.

90. Herod the Great built a temple to
Caesar Augustus here in 19 BC. Roman
Emperors were worshiped as gods.

91. Remains of Emperor’s Temple

92. Remains of Caesar Augustus temple
After the revolt at Masada, many Jews and
Christians were sacrificed at Panias (Banias)
by the Romans.

93. Hillside of Panias (Banias)

94. Why would Jesus bring the disciples
25 miles on foot to see the place of
worship of false gods?
Think on this…

95. Now when Jesus came into the district of
Caesaria Philippi, he asked his disciples,
“Who do the people say the Son of Man is?”
And they said, “Some say John the Baptist,
others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or
one of the prophets. He said to them,
“But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter replied, “You are the
Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
Matthew 16: 13-16

96. And Jesus answered him, “Blessed
are you, Simon Bar Jonah! For flesh
and blood has not revealed this to
you, but My Father, who is in heaven.
And I tell you, you are Peter (petros,
the pebble), and on this rock (petra,
immovable foundation) I will build my
church, and the Gates of Hades shall
not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16: 17-18

97. MOUNT HERMON
“And after 6 days, Jesus took with him Peter and
James, and John his brother, and led them up a
a high mountain by themselves.” Matthew 17:1

98. “And He was transfigured before them, and His face
shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as
light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses
and Elijah, talking with Him. Matthew 17:2-3

99. All of us must answer the
question of Jesus:
“Who do you say that I am?”
Peter professed his faith before
he had seen the glory of Christ.
What proofs are we looking for?

100. What Proofs Can We Find?
*Written documents: Josephus, Pliny,
Jewish accounts from the time of Christ
*Eyewitness accounts: Gospel accounts
and Paul’s letters
*Historical and Archaeological evidence:
Places found, inscriptions, graffiti of
pilgrims
*The testimony of a changed life :
Saul to Paul
*Biblical Prophecy fulfilled: 60 of them!
*The testimony of our own changed life!

101. And the strongest evidence:
Who would die for a lie?
1. Peter – crucified upside down
2. Andrew – crucified on X-shaped cross
3. Matthew – the sword
4. John – natural
5. James, son of Alphaeus – crucified
6. Philip – crucified
7. Simon – crucified
8. Thaddeus – killed by arrows
9. James, brother of Jesus – stoned
10. Thomas – spear thrust, thrown into oven
11. Bartholomew – crucified
12. James, son of Zebedee – the sword
13. Jude, brother of James – crucified

102. “Therefore whoever confesses Me
before men, him I will also confess
before My Father in heaven.
But whoever denies Me before men,
him I will also deny before My
Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:32-33

103. As followers of Jesus Christ,
Be courageous!
Be bold!
Be loving!
Tell others!
Know Him and Make Him Known!